Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday

As the long day finally came to an end, a sense of weary triumph settled over the warriors. The first section of Starfall Isle had been cleared as the Shadow Beasts were reduced to nothing but remnants of darkness.

Grace took a slow breath as she let her energy sword disappear from her hand. Around her, the warriors were moving towards their designated resting area - a cave nestled beneath a rocky cliffside.

2025 found it after scanning the area, declaring it as the safest place for them to rest. And it was Rune along with a team of seven warriors who cleared the cave of any beasts hiding in there.

Inside, the air was damp, and the walls were lined with patches of glowing moss. The floor was uneven, scattered with loose rocks, but it was sheltered, and most importantly, defensible.

Since Grace dismissed the idea of returning to the safety of the ship for the night, they had to make do with the cave.

Once everyone was inside, she moved to the entrance of the cave. Raising a hand, she channeled her power and golden energy flickered to life around her fingers. With careful precision, she traced the air, forming a barrier of energy wards over the entrance.

Turning to the warriors, she spoke, "We have around five hours to rest. And while the barrier will hold, we will still take turns keeping watch."

There was no argument.

Even the newest recruits, who still bore the shaky breaths and trembling hands of their first real battle, understood that hesitation meant death. This island wasn't theirs yet, not until the last beast had fallen.

Couple of fires were lit around the cave and warriors settled down in groups around them, enjoying the MRE packets they received from Grace. They needed both food and rest to kill more Shadow Beasts.

Davian took this chance to address the warriors. "You all handled yourselves well today," he said, his deep voice carrying over the crackling flames. He met the eyes of a few recruits, offering them a nod of approval. "First real battle is always the hardest."

The recruits, despite their exhaustion, straightened at the praise.

Rune was sitting opposite Davian, toying with a spirit stone. He kept flipping it in the air before catching it in his palm. His expression was unreadable, but when he finally spoke, his words cut sharper than any blade.

"They need to be faster," he said flatly, tossing the stone up again. "We can't afford hesitation. The beasts won't wait for them to find their courage."

Silence settled over the group, heavier than before. A few of the newer warriors averted their gazes, knowing Rune was right. Some of them had faltered, and hesitation could have cost them their lives.

Grace let her gaze sweep over the weary group, her eyes gleaming in the dim light of the fires. "We have time," she said in a steady voice. "They'll learn."

Just when the warriors thought she was on their side, she added - "Or they won't survive."

- - -

From that night onward, time blurred into a cycle of war and survival.

Each dawn, Grace, Rune, and Davian led the warriors deeper into the island, their forces pushing through dense forests, jagged cliffs, and eerie clearings where shadows clung too thickly to the ground.

But the beasts were changing.

At first, they had encountered creatures similar to the ones from the first battle - dark, slithering monsters with glowing eyes and jagged teeth. But as they advanced, new horrors emerged.

Some had hardened, armor-like hides, making regular weapons nearly useless. Others spewed corrosive mist, their very breath capable of melting metal and flesh alike. Some even merged together, creating monstrous abominations that fought with the strength of multiple beasts combined.

The battles became harder, deadlier.

But so did they, especially the new recruits as they adapted to the fights. At first, their movements had been hesitant, uncertain, but after several days of relentless combat, they finally started getting stronger.

By the time the seventh day arrived, the warriors stood at the heart of Starfall Isle.

[Final Battle: Kill the Boss Beast]

The system started notifying Grace about all the rewards she would receive upon killing the boss of the Island.

It was a monstros unlike anything they had faced before - a towering, multi-headed creature, its bodies rippling with shadows that twisted and churned unnaturally. It let out an earth-shaking roar, its multiple heads snapping wildly as dozens of red eyes glowed in the darkness.

This was the one controlling the others, and most importantly, it had a Level Eight Purple Spirit Stone. A level eight stone meant that it was Class-8 beast, as powerful as a Rank-A warrior.

And a purple Spirit Stone meant Shadow Elemental power - the first of its kind that Grace had come across.

The battle was a storm of weapons, powers, and shadows.

Grace vanished and reappeared, her sword slicing through tendrils of darkness.

Rune rained down explosions, cutting through its massive limbs.

Davian drove his time-accelerated strikes into its core, every hit sending out bursts of energy.

But the beast was relentless.

It lashed out with tendrils, nearly crushing three warriors before Grace teleported them to safety.

It spat a wave of corrosive mist, forcing the fighters to retreat. But they refused to fall.

Through a final, coordinated assault, the three leaders struck together. Grace's sword plunged deep into its heart, while Rune and Davian struck its limbs simultaneously.

A shattering cry echoed through the island as the creature collapsed, dissolving into black mist.

And in its place, at the very center of the battlefield, lay a massive, glowing spirit stone.

Grace stepped forward, picking up the spirit stone, feeling the raw power pulsing beneath her fingertips.

It was done.

Starfall Isle was theirs.

She turned to her warriors, most of whom were bloodied, exhausted, but victorious.

"We did it," she said, voice carrying through the battlefield. "This land is ours now."

For a long moment, there was only silence, but then cheers of pure joy took over. The warriors cheered, their voices echoing across the island, breaking through the darkness that had once ruled here.

They had won.

But this was only the beginning.